LEP Recruits Health Board Director

A former health and social care professor has been recruited as a health sector expert to the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership board.

Dean Fathers will bring knowledge and expertise of the health and care sector to the LEP, a private sector-led organisation which works to create sustainable economic growth in Greater Lincolnshire.

Dean has held a portfolio of commercial board appointments for over 20 years across a range of sectors. He has worked around the globe and brings a wealth of best practice experience to the LEP board.

In addition, Dean has held a number of NHS board appointments and has developed considerable health and social care experience that is of particular relevance to his appointment.

Dean said: “Lincolnshire is dependent on the health and care system in so many ways. Healthcare is one of the UK's top five contributors to GDP and bringing improved wealth and health outcomes to Lincolnshire is important to me.

“Innovation in the health and care system has been significant and I want to encourage businesses to ensure that as many people in Lincolnshire as possible profit from the recent advances in healthcare technologies and improved ways of working.”

Dean brings a breadth of practical experience which has been enhanced through his previous work with the IoD and his professorial appointments with three international university business schools. This has given him a unique knowledge base around corporate governance, strategic thinking and system leadership.

After studying for a degree in organisation studies at Bradford University, Dean then completed a postgraduate diploma and an Msc in organisation development and a diploma in company direction.

He began his career with several executive management roles, including for BMW and Pioneer. As well as his public service appointments, Dean also has experience with a variety of other commercial private sector roles as well as academic and voluntary positions.

He was formerly Visiting Professor in Health and Social Care at Cass Business School, City University.

Throughout his career Dean has taken on various chair and trustee roles for organisations, and he is currently Chair of both the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity and the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.